Calotrope (Calotropis procera) control

Calotrope [Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T.Aiton] is an exotic shrub or small tree species that is currently invading the tropical savannahs of northern Australia. A chemical trial involving 11 herbicides and four application methods (foliar, basal bark, cut stump and soil applied) was undertaken to identify effective chemicals to control calotrope. Of the foliar herbicides tested, imazapyr provided 100% mortality at the rates applied, and the higher rate of metsulfuron-methyl killed 100% of the treated plants. The herbicides 2,4-D butyl ester, fluroxypyr, triclopyr and triclopyr/picloram killed greater than 80% of the plants when applied by a basal bark or cut stump (when cut 5cm above ground level) method of application. Plants cut close to ground level (5cm) were controlled more effectively than plants cut 20cm above ground level. Chemical control (foliar and cut stump spraying) is a cost effective tool to treat calotrope densities <800plants/ha. Adoption of pasture management practices that promote perennial grasses, in conjunction with strategic chemical control, would further increase the effectiveness and reduce the costs of controlling vast areas of this weed.

Prospects for the classical biological control of Calotropis procera (Apocynaceae) using co-evolved insects

Calotropis procera (Apocynaceae), a native of tropical Africa, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent, is a serious environmental and rangeland weed of Australia and Brazil. It is also a weed in Hawaii in USA, the Caribbean Islands, the Seychelles, Mexico, Thailand, Vietnam and many Pacific Islands. In the native range C. procera has many natural enemies, thus classical biological control could be the most cost-effective option for its long-term management. Based on field surveys in India and a literature search, some 65 species of insects and five species of mites have been documented on C. procera and another congeneric-invador C. gigantea in the native range. All the leaf-feeding and stem-boring agents recorded on Calotropis spp. have wide host range. Three pre-dispersal seed predators,the Aak weevil Paramecops farinosus and the Aak fruit fly Dacuspersicus in the Indian subcontinent, and the Sodom apple fruit fly Dacus longistylus in the Middle East have been identified as prospective biological control agents based on their field host range. In Australia and Brazil, where C. procera has the potential to spread across vast areas, pre-dispersal seed predators would help to limit the spread of the weed. While the fruits of C. procera vary in size and shape across its range, those from India are similar to the ones in Australia and Brazil. Hence, seed-feeding insects from India are more likely to be suitable due to adaptation to fruit size and morphology. Future survey efforts for potential biological control agents should focus on North Africa.

Seed bank longevity and age to reproductive maturity of Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton in the dry tropics of northern Queensland

Understanding the reproductive biology of Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton, an invasive weed of northern Australia, is critical for development of effective management strategies. Two experiments are reported on. In Experiment 1 seed longevity of C. procera seeds, exposed to different soil type (clay and river loam), pasture cover (present and absent) and burial depth (0, 2.5, 10 and 20 cm) treatments were examined. In Experiment 2 time to reach reproductive maturity was studied. The latter experiment included its sister species, C. gigantea (L.) W.T. Aiton, for comparison and two separate seed lots were tested in 2009 and 2012 to determine if exposure to different environmental conditions would influence persistence. Both seed lots demonstrated a rapid decline in viability over the first 3 months and declined to zero between 15 and 24 months after burial. In Experiment 1, longevity appeared to be most influenced by rainfall patterns and associated soil moisture, burial depth and soil type, but not the level of pasture cover. Experiment 2 showed that both C. procera and C. gigantea plants could flower once they had reached an average height of 85 cm. However, they differed significantly in terms of basal diameter at first flowering with C. gigantea significantly smaller (31 mm) than C. procera (45 mm). On average, C. gigantea flowered earlier (125 days vs 190 days) and set seed earlier (359 days vs 412 days) than C. procera. These results suggest that, under similar conditions to those that prevailed in the present studies, land managers could potentially achieve effective control of patches of C. procera in 2 years if they are able to kill all original plants and treat seedling regrowth frequently enough to prevent it reaching reproductive maturity. This suggested control strategy is based on the proviso that replenishment of the seed bank is not occurring from external sources (e.g. wind and water dispersal).

Osmotin from Calotropis procera latex: New insights into structure and antifungal properties

This study aimed at investigating the structural properties and mechanisms of the antifungal action of CpOsm, a purified osmotin from Calotropis procera latex. Fluorescence and CD assays revealed that the CpOsm structure is highly stable, regardless of pH levels. Accordingly, CpOsm inhibited the spore germination of Fusarium solani in all pH ranges tested. The content of the secondary structure of CpOsm was estimated as follows: alpha-helix (20%), beta-sheet (33%), turned (19%) and unordered (28%). RMSD 1%. CpOsm was stable at up to 75 degrees C, and thermal denaturation (T(m)) was calculated to be 77.8 degrees C. This osmotin interacted with the negatively charged large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-rac-1-glycerol (POPG), inducing vesicle permeabilization by the leakage of calcein. CpOsm induced the membrane permeabilization of spores and hyphae from Fusarium solani, allowing for propidium iodide uptake. These results show that CpOsm is a stable protein, and its antifungal activity involves membrane permeabilization, as property reported earlier for other osmotins and thaumatin-like proteins. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Flavonóides de Calotropis procera R. Br. (Asclepiadaceae)

In this work we report the identification of two flavonol glycosides isolated from the leaves of Calotropis procera R. Br. (Asclepiadaceae), a plant species with large occurrence in Northwest of Brazil with some applications in folk medicine. Some proved pharmacological activities in this species could be attributed to the presence of flavonol glycosides. The extraction and isolation of flavonol glycosides was carried out firstly by a liquid-liquid partition, and then by elution of n-BuOH fraction with MeOH over a Sephadex LH-20 column. The identification of flavonol glycosides isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside (1), and isorhamnetin-3-O-robinobioside (2), was obtained by 1H and 13C NMR, one- and two-dimensional techniques.

Avaliação do potencial das fibras de Ceiba Pentandra (Kapok) e Calotropis Procera como adsorventes de petróleo

On the basis of human evolution and the population increase was necessary, the emergence of new sources of energy, the development of new products and technologies. One such product, object of the industry revolution and of great importance to the development of humanity is the oil, a substance composed primarily of hydrocarbons which give rise to several other products as fuels, lubricants, polymers, solvents, cooking gas, asphalt for roads, fertilizers, medicines, paints, among other. However, mishandling this product may cause leaks and spills that generate huge damages to the environment and the economy. Soon, with the purpose of contributing to decrease is problematic, in this master's work was carried out an intensive search of the possible potential of the fibers of Ceiba pentandra (L.) "Kapok" and Calotropis Procera as bioadsorbents of petroleum in water. The choice of these fibers is due to surface properties such as oleophylics and hydrophobic, their buoyancy and yet, being biodegradable natural polymers derived from the Brazilian Northeast. This research was used experimental planning with response surface methodology (RSM) with the software Design Expert. The results were statistically efficient, obtaining a R2= 0.9995 for Calotropis Procera and a R2= 0.9993 for Kapok. And that, both fibers showed adsorption efficiency, removing more than 80% petroleum in water static and dynamic state.

First record of Passalora calotropidis in Australia and its generic position

Passalora calotropidis has been found for the first time in Australia on rubber bush (Calotropis procera) in northern Queensland where it was associated with a damaging leaf spot disease. Analysis of sequence data of the ITS region indicated that P calotropidis belonged to a group that consisted of species of Pseudocercospora. The generic position of P calotropidis and its potential for biological control are discussed.

Developments and Microbiological applications in African foods: Emphasis on Nigerian Wara cheese

African indigenous foods have received limited research. Most of these indigenous foods are fermented and they form part of the rich nutritional culture of many groups in African countries. The industrialization and commercialisation of these indigenous African fermented foods should be preceded by a thorough scientific knowledge of their processing which can be vital in the elimination of hunger and poverty. This study highlighted emerging developments and the microbiology of cereal-based and cassava-based food products that constitute a major part of the human diet in most African countries. In addition, investigations were also carried out on the coagulant of the Calotropis procera plant used in traditional production of Nigerian Wara cheese and on the effects of adding a nisin producing Lactococcus lactis strain originating from human milk to Nigerian Wara cheese. Fermented cereal-based food such as ogi utilize popular African and readily available grains maize, millet or sorghum as substrates and is popular as a weaning diet in infants. In this study, the bulkiness caused by starch gelatinization was solved by amylase treatments in the investigation on cooked and fermented oat bran porridge. A similar treatment could reduce the viscosity of any cereal porridge. The properties of the Sodom apple leaves (Calotropis procera) extract in cheesemaking were studied. C. procera was affected by monovalent (K+ and Na+) and divalent (Mg2+ and Ca2+) cations during coagulation. The rennet strength of this coagulant was found to be 7 % compared to animal rennet at 35 °C. Increasing the incubation temperature to 70 °C increased the rennet strength 28-fold. The molecular weight of the partially purified protease was determined by SDS-PAGE and was confirmed by Zymography to be approximately 60 kilodaltons. The high proteolytic activity at 70 °C supported the suitability of the protease enzyme as a coagulant in future commercial production of Nigerian Wara cheese. It was also possible to extend the shelf life of Wara cheese by a nisin producing lactic acid bacteria Lactococcus lactis LAC309. The levels of nisin in both whey and curd fractions of Wara were investigated, results showed a 3 log reduction of toxicogenic Bacillus licheniformis spiked on Wara after 3 days. These studies are the first in Finland to promote the advancement of scientific knowledge in African foods. Recognizing these indigenous food products and an efficient transfer of technology from the developed countries to industrialize them are necessary towards a successful realization of the United Nations Millenium Development Program.

Immnunomodulatory and cytotoxic effects of aqueous leaf extracts of certain plants on common carp, Cyprinus carpio

Effect of aqueous leaf extracts of Catheranthus roseus, Calotropis gigantium and Datura stromoneum on common carp, Cyprinus carpio were investigated. C. carpio were separately fed with 1 and 2% aqueous extracts of these three plant leaves for a period of seven days. In 1% Catheranthus roseus of leaf extract fed group no significant tissue level changes were recorded. One and 2% of other two species fed treated group showed mild to severe necrotic and cellular changes in liver, kidney and spleen. Immunologically, significant rise in antibody titre and respiratory burst activity was recorded for 1% Catheranthus roseusfed group.

First record of Passalora calotropidis in Australia and its generic position

Passalora calotropidis has been found for the first time in Australia on rubber bush (Calotropis procera) in northern Queensland where it was associated with a damaging leaf spot disease. Analysis of sequence data of the ITS region indicated that P. calotropidis belonged to a group that consisted of species of Pseudocercospora. The generic position of P. calotropidis and its potential for biological control are discussed.

Natural parasitism of lepidopteran eggs by Trichogramma species (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) in agricultural crops in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

The genus Trichogramma Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) includes insect egg parasitoids that are widely used throughout the world as control agents of pest insects. The aim of this study was to identify the species of Trichogramma naturally associated with the eggs of lepidopteran pests of the following agricultural and horticultural crops: collards, Brassica oleracea L. (Brassicales: Brassicaceae); papaya, Carica papaya L. (Capparales: Caricaceae); tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. (Solanales: Solanaceae); cassava, Manihot esculenta Crantz (Malpighiales: Euphorbiaceae); banana, Musa sp. L. (Zingiberales: Musaceae); passion fruit, Passiflora sp. Degener (Malpighiales: Passifloraceae); sugarcane, Saccharum sp. L. (Poales: Poaceae); and corn (maize), Zea mays L. (Poales: Poaceae); and an invasive species (Sodom?s apple milkweed, Calotropis procera Aiton; Gentianales: Apocynaceae) in the semiarid region of Minas Gerais, Brazil. We report natural parasitism by Trichogramma in eggs of Agraulis vanillae vanillae (L.) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), Antichloris eriphia F. (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), Danaus sp. (L.) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), Diatraea saccharalis F. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), Erinnyis ello L. (Lepidopera: Sphingidae), and Protambulyx strigilis L. (Lepidopera: Sphingidae). In total, 2,242 specimens of Trichogramma were obtained, belonging to the species T. pretiosum Riley, T. manicobai Brun, Moraes & Soares, T. marandobai Brun, Moraes & Soares, and T. galloi Zucchi. These species of Trichogramma may be candidates for biological control programs of lepidopteran pests in the semiarid region of Minas Gerais and in other semiarid regions.